Bending load induced failure forms of sugarcane stalks

It is important to study the mechanical properties of sugarcane stalks for understanding the process of cutting sugarcane and designing blades. "Three point bending experiments" were conducted to study the mechanical properties of sugarcane under bending load. The experiments were conducted for the variety "Gulin-1", using the equipment of "AG-I 50 AUTOGRAPH", made by the CO. of SHIMADZU. The results are as follows: 1)Under bending load, sugarcane stalks have four failure forms: breaking at neutral layer, transverse breaking, breaking at axial direction under bottom, and irregular breaking. Samples from base or tail of sugarcane stalk mainly present transverse breaking, others present breaking at neutral layer. 2)For the variety "Gulin-1", the averages of Yong's modulus and bending strength of sugarcane stalks at base position are 1172 N/mm² and 46.5 N/mm², respectively. After peeled, they are 1514.8 N/mm² and 42 N/mm², respectively. 3) The Yong's modulus of sugarcane stalks at base position has distinct difference when the stalk is peeled, and it is larger than the values without peeling. The bending strength of sugarcane stalks at base position does not have distinct difference between the peeled stalk and one without peeling.